Foundation goes digital with new fundraising card

Graham Fields, left, with the Henderson County Education Foundation, Judy McKnight, center, with RelyLocalHendersonville.com, and David Jones, superintendent of Henderson County Public Schools, take part in the kick off event for the new BOGO fundraising card on Thursday at the Henderson County Visitors Information Center.

MIKE DIRKS/TIMES-NEWS

By NANCY TANKERTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Friday, August 23, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 11:01 p.m.

The Henderson County Education Foundation is bringing its fundraising into the digital age, replacing coupon books with a discount card whose benefits are detailed on a website, through iPhone and Android apps, and on Facebook.

The card will be for sale at local schools in September.

The new card, a partnership between the Foundation and RelyLocal Hendersonville, officially was announced at the Visitors Information Center on Thursday.

Each card costs $10, with $1.25 of that going to HCEF and $6 to Henderson County schools. Last year, HCEF distributed nearly $150,000 in scholarships to Henderson County students.

The new cards will be sold through HCEF, the Visitors Information Center, the Henderson County Board of Education, and Henderson County schools. Mountain Credit Union, Park Ridge Health and Morris Broadband are sponsors.

HCEF Executive Director Don Jones said the move away from the buy-one-get-one-free coupon book marks a transition for the foundation from a paper-based economy to the digital age.

"We're moving more toward automatic digital delivery that makes supporting Henderson County schools more efficient and convenient," he said. "The new BOGO card is just like any credit card you can carry in your wallet."

The new program has its own website where deals can be found: http://MoneyForHCschools.com.

"Plus, with the new BOGO program, discounts can easily be found via our iPhone and Android mobile apps," RelyLocal Hendersonville founder Judy McKnight said. "We'll also have a dedicated Facebook page and a blog."

Because there is no requirement for a printed coupon book, new deals and discounts can be added at any time. If cardholders choose, they can receive monthly email updates on new offers and merchant special events.

McKnight said most of the businesses are offering buy-one/get-one deals, but some are offering "huge discounts" instead. For cardholders without access to a computer or smartphone, "a printout is available with all offers on request."

"Participating retailers will be easily noticed by cardholders because the merchants will have a clearly visible BOGO logo window decal," McKnight explained. "Cardholders just have to show their BOGO card to the merchant in order to claim the offer.

"With the community's support, we can raise close to $100,000 for public schools and education," she added. "Not only will card buyers be supporting education, but they'll also be providing more support for locally owned and operated businesses, our local economy and the community."

According to Jones, HCEF sold 8,000 coupon books last year, at $10 each.

"We think that with the more convenient credit card-like format, more people will buy the cards this year," he said. "Our big goal is more money for the schools. That's our driving format."

Henderson County Schools Superintendent David Jones said he supports the new BOGO card program and appreciates "the continued support of our schools by the Education Foundation. We're blessed to see kids have opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have because of them. This is a new avenue for us to reach out to the community."

<p>The Henderson County Education Foundation is bringing its fundraising into the digital age, replacing coupon books with a discount card whose benefits are detailed on a website, through iPhone and Android apps, and on Facebook.</p><p>The card will be for sale at local schools in September.</p><p>The new card, a partnership between the Foundation and RelyLocal Hendersonville, officially was announced at the Visitors Information Center on Thursday.</p><p>Each card costs $10, with $1.25 of that going to HCEF and $6 to Henderson County schools. Last year, HCEF distributed nearly $150,000 in scholarships to Henderson County students.</p><p>The new cards will be sold through HCEF, the Visitors Information Center, the Henderson County Board of Education, and Henderson County schools. Mountain Credit Union, Park Ridge Health and Morris Broadband are sponsors.</p><p>HCEF Executive Director Don Jones said the move away from the buy-one-get-one-free coupon book marks a transition for the foundation from a paper-based economy to the digital age.</p><p>"We're moving more toward automatic digital delivery that makes supporting Henderson County schools more efficient and convenient," he said. "The new BOGO card is just like any credit card you can carry in your wallet."</p><p>The new program has its own website where deals can be found: http://MoneyForHCschools.com.</p><p>"Plus, with the new BOGO program, discounts can easily be found via our iPhone and Android mobile apps," RelyLocal Hendersonville founder Judy McKnight said. "We'll also have a dedicated Facebook page and a blog."</p><p>Because there is no requirement for a printed coupon book, new deals and discounts can be added at any time. If cardholders choose, they can receive monthly email updates on new offers and merchant special events.</p><p>McKnight said most of the businesses are offering buy-one/get-one deals, but some are offering "huge discounts" instead. For cardholders without access to a computer or smartphone, "a printout is available with all offers on request."</p><p>"Participating retailers will be easily noticed by cardholders because the merchants will have a clearly visible BOGO logo window decal," McKnight explained. "Cardholders just have to show their BOGO card to the merchant in order to claim the offer.</p><p>"With the community's support, we can raise close to $100,000 for public schools and education," she added. "Not only will card buyers be supporting education, but they'll also be providing more support for locally owned and operated businesses, our local economy and the community."</p><p>According to Jones, HCEF sold 8,000 coupon books last year, at $10 each.</p><p>"We think that with the more convenient credit card-like format, more people will buy the cards this year," he said. "Our big goal is more money for the schools. That's our driving format."</p><p>Henderson County Schools Superintendent David Jones said he supports the new BOGO card program and appreciates "the continued support of our schools by the Education Foundation. We're blessed to see kids have opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have because of them. This is a new avenue for us to reach out to the community."</p><p>Reach Tanker at nancy.tanker@blueridgenow.com.</p>